Faye

What follows are more reflections on the film than a review. As I began watching, the question arose: Huh, why isn't Faye Dunaway acting anymore? Or have I just missed noticing her? The film provides several probable answers without specifying an answer to my question (or explicitly raising it), which I won't spoil. There is honesty throughout, without indulging in "hard-hitting" expose style journalism. As feature-length documentaries do, it touches on a great deal with moments of some insight, but not deep examination. I appreciate getting to know better a personality I only understood through viewing their work (mostly as a much younger, less educated man) or through the sensationalizing lens of celebrity media "reporting" in the 70s. The documentary seemed to me to raise a new unanswered question: What show might we yet see Ms Dunaway in? And (this is not a film spoiler, just a projection of thoughts I brought as a viewer near the end of the film) the last half dozen views we have of Ms Dunaway made me think of a resemblance she has to Joni Mitchell. Might a quality Joni Mitchell biopic script be making the rounds? Maybe one that focuses on Joni's years after her major Pop success years, or that enables Dunaway to share the role with someone playing Joni's younger years? It's just an idea I want to put out there.

As "Fay (2024 release; 91 min.) opens, it is "March 28, 1977" and Fay Dunaway wins the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in "Network". We see the iconic picture taken the morning after as Faye lays poolside with newspapers spread out and laying about (perhaps the most famous Oscar photo ever taken). Various talking heads gush about Faye's most famous performances. We then go back in time as Faye talks about her upbringing in the deep South... At this point we are less tahn 10 minutes into the movie. Couple of comments: this is the latest documentary from director Lauren Bouzereau ("Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind"). Here, with a big assist from Fay's son Liam, he manages to have extended one-on-one sit-downs with Faye as she reflects on her life and times. She openly discusses her "difficult" reputation, but also her bipolar disorder diagnosis. I was most interested in hearing what became of this famous actress once she was no longer so much in the limelight (from the late 1980's on). Please note that this documentary is simply called "Faye" (as seen in the opening credits), and not "Faye: The Many Lives of Faye Dunaway" (as advertised on HBO and Max). "Faye" premiered at this year's Canned film festival to positive acclaim. A couple of weeks ago it started airing on HBO and streaming on Max, where I caught it just last night. This documentary is currently rated 100% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. While "Faye" is certainly a worthwhile documentary, that rating seems a bit overly generous to me. In any event, if you are a fan of Faye Dunaway or of Hollywood in the 1970s, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.

I may have stolen some of the above title from an interview with the late, great Robin Williams I saw years ago. Still, all the elements were in place for what was going to happen after she had a decade on top of the film industry: 1. From Bonnie & Clyde through Network she could do no wrong. (That period also included her Academy Award for Network) 2. As she approached her 40s life for all actors, especially women, becomes difficult. Remember, the age of the average movie going customer is 24.5 years old. 3. She rubbed people the wrong way. I don't recall her working with any of her leading men-many of which stayed on top for years after-working with her in projects. 4. Do you really think that the director, Frank Perry, of Mommie Dearest would have been listened to if he told her to "pull it back"? What comes up must come down. Faye Dunaway needs no excuses for how her career went. This documentary tries to put a lot of square pegs into round holes to convince us otherwise.

Nicely edited overview of her key movies with some entertaining back story details - supplemented with objective commentary from family, friends, colleagues. Thankfully, not the typical lovefest parade of non-stop fawning praise, but a believable balance of commentary that sheds light on her great talent as well as predisposition to being a difficult personality. A particularly interesting debate on the merits (or to some, faults) with "Mommie Dearest," made all the more valuable by comments from her co stars in that controversial picture. Those who are not necessarily fans of Ms, Dunaway but have interest in the cinema of the 1970s should take a look.